Monkey Shoulder announces David Abalayan as UBC PH winner

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David Abalayan celebrates his win. MONKEY SHOULDER PHOTO

FOLLOWING an intense competition culminating in a thrilling finale at Skinny Mike’s in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig on July 21, 2025, Monkey Shoulder has declared David Abalayan, bar manager at Oto Bar in Manila, the Philippines winner of the 2025 Ultimate Bartender Championship (UBC).

Abalayan triumphed over a huge field of competitors, with bartenders going head-to-head as their skills in pouring, table service, nosing, the perfect serve and building a round of drinks were put to the test.

The winning bartender, who pipped runners-up Clyde Ferrer of Fat Cat Makati and Sammy Abat of +81 Makati in a thrilling final round, has been in hospitality for over 10 years and joined Oto back in 2019.

The panel of referees, composed of former winners and distinguished Filipino bartenders, praised Abalayan’s attention to detail, speed and ability to get his drinks to them while still fresh and delicious, in the highly challenging “Round Building” finale, adding that he was a unanimous choice to win.

His win will send him to Tokyo in October to represent the country in the regional finals against other UBC finalists from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.

“This win is hugely exciting; to be honest I didn’t expect it and it feels amazing that all the hard work at Oto and practicing for tonight have brought me here,” he said after the competition.

Monkey Shoulder first launched UBC in 2015 and it has been held in over 21 countries with over 8,000 participants to date, becoming a globally recognized platform for bartenders to participate in to refine their skills and elevate their careers.

“The Ultimate Bartender Championship is designed to test the ‘skills that pay the bills’ while celebrating talent and communities across the world. The challenges are based on the fundamental skills of bartending, refereed by experts in their field. Every year, the energy and dedication we see from Philippine bartenders is nothing short of inspiring. They bring a

unique flair and passion that resonates far beyond the bar. As we kick off this year’s UBC, we’re opening doors for bartending talent to shine globally. It’s going to be bigger, bolder and more unforgettable than ever,” Monkey Shoulder global brand ambassador Joe Petch said.

“We’re thrilled with the level of skill and passion we’ve seen at this year’s Monkey Shoulder UBC final. A huge congratulations to David and best of luck for the regional final in Tokyo; the whole of the Philippines bar community will be cheering you on,” said Brendon Khoo, Monkey Shoulder regional brand ambassador, Southeast Asia.

The first-ever Monkey Shoulder UBC regional finals will take place in Tokyo on October 10 to 12, 2025, together with the DMC World DJ Championships.

Visit https://www.monkeyshoulder.com/en-ph for more information.